15 Most Valuable Degrees in Canada

While studying in Canada, it will be more rewarding if you pursue the most valuable degrees in Canada. Pursuing such degrees will not only land you high paying jobs in the country but will also give you modern technological skills needed in other countries.

Meanwhile, studying in Canadian university to earn a degree pays depending on the field of study. According to a study by Statistics Canada, engineering degrees top the list of most valuable degrees in Canada while arts and humanities appear at the bottom of the list. The study was focused on bachelor’s degree graduates from universities and colleges from 2010 to 2012 using their income after five years.

Additionally, the study showed that six of the top 10 disciplines among men and seven of the top 10 disciplines among women are different disciplines in engineering.

So, in this article, you will find details and salaries of the most valuable degrees in Canada. You will also see the degrees that pay more for men and women respectively.

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Most Valuable Degrees in Canada

Here, you will find a list of the most valuable degrees in Canada with their details. The earnings for each of these degrees are also attached to them. The list was compiled based on a study from Statistics Canada. In addition to this, you will see the tuition fee that top universities in Canada charge students who are pursuing the degrees.

Thus, the most valuable degrees in Canada include:

  • Business
  • Petroleum or Chemical Engineering
  • Medicine
  • Finance
  • Pharmacology
  • Geosciences
  • Software Engineering
  • Law
  • Business Administration
  • Specialized Engineering
  • Nursing
  • Civil Engineering
  • Electrical Engineering
  • Nuclear Engineering

Business

Business is a big discipline that encompasses maths and commerce. It teaches students the theories and models in statistics and programming. Through the study, students can apply these theories to solve different business problems.

On the other hand, the first-year tuition fee for Business at Canada’s top universities are as follows:

  • McGill University $7,632
  • University of Toronto $6,780
  • University of British Columbia $5,399

The jobs that business graduates can land in Canada include administrative services, budget, and management analysts, and marketing managers. The business discipline happens to offer one of the most valuable degrees in Canada.

  • Average salary: C$110,000 to C$115,000

Petroleum or Chemical Engineering

Students in petroleum and chemical engineering take maths and science courses in their first year and second year. From the third year to graduation, they learn fluid mechanics, heat & mass transfer, and process modeling. These courses will enable them to design operations used for transforming raw materials into finished products for oil and gas, pharmaceuticals, or energy industries.

To study petroleum and chemical engineering, students should expect to pay in their first year $15,760 at the University of Toronto,  $7,632 at McGill University, and $6,298.95 at UBC.

Graduates of petroleum and chemical engineering can expect to work in oil and gas companies, energy industries, and research institutes.

  • Average salary: C$104,000

Medicine

The field of medicine is highly rewarding in almost every country. Medical students in their first two years will take courses that combine lectures with laboratory work. Some of the courses to be taken include Anatomy and Physiology, Epidemiology/Biostatistics, Foundations of Disease/Microbiology, etc.

In the third year and final year, they will take Family Medicine, Obstetrics/Gynecology, Surgery, Psychiatry/Neurology, Pediatrics, Anesthesiology, Dermatology, Emergency Medicine, Ophthalmology, Radiology, and Urology.

Upon graduation, students will take the necessary examinations for licensure so as to become a certified medical doctor.

In Canada, medical doctors have different job prospects depending on the part of the country they are practicing. The good thing is that the unemployment rate of doctors in Canada is relatively low as its employment rate is above the average of other occupations.

  • Average salary: C$360,000

Finance

Finance courses in the first and second year of the undergraduate degree include qualitative methods for accounting and finance, introduction to finance, business and management, financial management, financial reporting, tax compliance, and audit & assurance.

When students enter the third year, they will specialize in how to plan, examine, and manage the finances of banks, businesses, and other financial organizations.

To study finance in Canada, you will expect to pay a tuition fee of $7,632 at McGill, $6,780 at UTronto, and $5,399.10 at UBC.

Graduates of finance can land jobs as market research analysts, bank managers, mortgage brokers, and security analysts. Disciplines in finance offer one of the most valuable degrees in Canada.

  • Average salary: C$103,376

Pharmacology

At the undergraduate level, students take courses along with laboratory work. The foundational courses include chemistry, microbiology, physiology, biochemistry, statistics, human anatomy, and physics.

The remaining years of study will be focused on drug design, drug evaluation, and the effect of drugs on the body. Additionally, students will learn how to advise patients, dispense medication, and manage daily business logistics including accounting and legal issues.

In the final years of the undergraduate degree, students will undertake experiential learning programs including Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experiences (IPPEs) and Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experiences (APPEs).

Meanwhile, the IPPEs will be completed in the first three years while the APPEs will be completed in the fourth year where students will gain practical experience in hospitals, physician’s offices, and pharmaceutical companies under the supervision of licensed pharmacists.

After graduation, students will take and pass an exam with the Pharmacy Examination Board of Canada, complete an apprenticeship, and become certified pharmacists.

On the other hand, reports reveal that there is a shortage of pharmacists in Canada thereby leading to a rise in the employment rate of pharmacists in the country. This makes pharmacy offer one of the most valuable degrees in Canada.

  • Average salary: C$102,398

Geosciences

The field of geosciences is very much in need in Canada’s mining industry. According to reports, there have been lots of weaknesses in the country’s mining industry as a result of lower prices of commodities from the mining industries.

In addition, the Government of Canada expects an increase in the country’s exploration of minerals in order to increase its yearly revenue. This shows that geosciences offer one of the most valuable degrees in Canada.

Graduates in the field of geosciences can expect to work in mineral and petroleum exploration, environmental consulting, and urban projects.

  • Average salary: C$100,006

Software Engineering

Software engineering is different from computer science and computer engineering. In software engineering, students learn how to build and maintain software systems while students in computer engineering learn how to design, develop, and manage computer systems.

Meanwhile, computer science students learn about data, data transformation, and algorithms.

Statistics from the Canadian Occupational Projection System (COPS) show that the employment of software engineers has increased rapidly in the last few years. This shows that software engineering offers one of the most valuable degrees in Canada.

  • Average salary: C$90,001

Law

Lawyers play a major role in the judicial system of Canada. Students pursuing the LLB should expect to take classes that will cover Criminal Law, Law of Torts, The Law of Contract, Land Law (Property Law), Equity and Trusts, Constitutional and Administrative Law.

These courses are offered to ensure that students have a comprehensive understanding of the legal system of the country. Students can choose their area of specialization after the first year of the undergraduate degree.

Upon graduation, lawyers in Canada can expect to work privately, with the government, or for the public. They can work as an Advice Worker, Chartered Accountant, Civil Service Administrator, Data Analyst, Data Scientist, Forensic Computer Analyst, Human Resources Officer, Patent Attorney, Stockbroker, or as a Trading Standards Officer.

  • Average salary: C$103,428 

Business Administration

At the undergraduate level, students will take courses including networking, communication management, interpersonal relationships, human resource management, organizational theory, cultural diversity, emergent technology, and general business policies.

If you wish to study business administration at any of Canada’s best institutions, you can expect to pay a first-year tuition fee of $7,632 at McGill, $6,780 at U of T, and $5,399.10 at UBC.

Students holding a bachelor of business administration (BBA) can land jobs in any industry they find themselves in. However, the earning will only depend on the position. The COPS reports that there are lots of job opportunities for graduates in the field. You can see why business administration offers one of the most valuable degrees in Canada.

  • Average salary: C$85,508

Specialized Engineering

Courses to be taken here include the normal curriculum for other fields of engineering. Students who major in this field gain jobs in agriculture, biomedicine, and textile industries. The work of the engineers is primarily managing processes, building equipment, and supervising the installation of machines.

To study this course, students will pay a first-year tuition fee of $15,760 at U of T, $7,632 at McGill, and $6,298.95 at UBC.

  • Average salary: C$85,009

Nursing

Nurses are in high demand in every country’s healthcare sector. This makes the career to be high in demand all over the world.

Nursing students will take courses in physiology, gerontology, psychology, microbiology, pharmacology, and ethics in nursing. Upon graduation, students will have to take and pass a licensure exam before they can be registered nurses.

The field of nursing offers one of the most valuable degrees in Canada because of the aging population of the country that needs medicare.

  • Average salary: C$84,510

Civil Engineering

Students at the undergraduate level take classes introduction to civil engineering, fluid mechanics & hydraulics, structural analysis, structural dynamics, structural design, geotechnical engineering, materials engineering, and transportation engineering.

Civil engineers design and construct buildings, roads, bridges, towers, water supply systems, etc.

Research by Building Solutions shows that the construction sector of Canada will move into large-scale engineering projects. This will lead to an increase in the demand for civil engineers thereby making the field offer one of the most valuable degrees in Canada.

The first-year tuition fee at Canada’s top universities are as follows; $15,760 at U of T, $7,632 at McGill, and $6,298.95 at UBC.

  • Average salary: C$80,080

Electrical Engineering

Electrical engineers design, develop, and operate electrical control systems and machines.

In the first two years, students will take courses such as maths, sciences, design & communications, and engineering analysis & computer proficiency. The final years of the undergraduate degree will see students take classes in circuits, signals & systems, electromagnetics & photonics, electronics, biomedical systems, communications systems, and solid-state engineering.

Graduates of electrical engineering in Canada will land jobs in transport networks, lighting, heating, ventilation, lift systems, power generation & distribution, renewable energy, manufacturing, and construction.

  • Average salary: C$75,000

Nuclear Engineering

Graduates of nuclear engineering research and produce the processes, instruments, and systems used to derive benefits from nuclear energy and radiation.

Nuclear engineers work in a variety of settings including industries, academics, medicine, and government.

They can work in academic institutions where they will carry out research and teach nuclear physics and engineering. In medicine, nuclear engineers carry out research and develop new diagnostic imaging devices and techniques with radiologists and medical physicists.

In addition, they can work in government agencies such as Atomic Energy of Canada and the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission. Nuclear engineers can also work in hydro companies and nuclear industries where they will apply their skills and knowledge.

  • Average salary: C$90,000

Computer Science

Students pursuing a bachelor’s degree in computer science will take core courses including algebra, statistics, calculus, programming, computer systems, communications & networking, web programming, operating systems, comparative programming languages, cybersecurity, robotics, and software engineering.

In addition to the aforementioned, students will undertake research practicums, undergraduate thesis, management specialization, or co-op placements. It will take students four (4) years to complete the degree.

  • Average salary: C$70736

Conclusion

Pursuing any degree in Canada is worth it because the country offers many job opportunities to its graduates. This is one of the reasons why students from all over the world come to Canada to study.

In the Canadian labor market, the field of engineering offers the most profitable jobs for both men and women. This is followed closely by finance and business.

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3 comments

  1. Hi Dear Sir/Madam
    I would like to study a PhD in petroleum engineering in Canada, could you please send me the link to apply for it.
    Thank you

  2. Hi Dear Sir/Madam
    I would like to study a PhD in petroleum engineering in Canada, could you please send me the link to apply for it.
    Thank you

Comments are closed.